Meet this year’s cast of tastemakers who are setting the tone for fashion in San Francisco.

Eche Martinez has a cosmopolitan, old-world way about him. The Argentine interior designer has a degree in architecture from Buenos Aires University, studied in Paris, summered in Miami, and lived and worked in New York. But since 2010, Martinez, 31, has headed efforts at Martha Angus Design, winning over the tight-knit interiors industry with his contemporary taste and fearless use of color. At last spring’s SF Decorator Showcase, Martinez made a splash with his “Danger Zone”—a playroom that mixed Belgian artist Maarten de Ceulaer’s bubble chairs with vibrant orange alpaca tepees and a wall-mounted Kid Robot doll. If this is any indication of what’s to come, Martinez may distinguish himself as a masterful mixer of classicism and pop culture. The Pacific Heights dweller is an equally sharp dresser, but it’s his gentlemanly grace that completes the package. His motto: “Small egos and big smiles go a long way.”

Signature accessory:
I’m not a shopper, but when it comes to man bags, I’m a hoarder.

Cheap thrill:
Taking the F-line streetcar for the heck of it—especially the old cars from Milan.

Expert opinion:
You can never go wrong with wallpapers from British printing houses like Farrow & Ball and Studio Printworks. I’d go for Cole & Son’s black-and-white Hexagon paper.

Uniform:
A slim white or light blue Oxford shirt, Diesel jeans, slip-on shoes (I don’t believe in shoelaces), and a tailored jacket in case of last-minute events or client meetings.

Favorite hotel:
The Parker Palm Springs—it feels like time travel to me.

Trick of the trade:
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day basil countertop spray.

Childhood hero:
Diego de la Vega—El Zorro without his mask.

This article was published in 7x7's September issue. Click here to subscribe.